08-12-2022

FACC joins the TPRC as Tier 1 member

FACC joins the TPRC as Tier 1 member

Aviation is facing major changes, which call for new materials that are both highly resilient and sustainable. By joining the international research network of TPRC, FACC has taken an important step towards further strengthening its role as one of the world’s leading aviation groups.

In collaboration with leading international technology companies, FACC is conducting research into the further development of lightweight materials, so-called thermoplastic fiber composites. These are particularly attractive for the aerospace industry as they are not only fully recyclable, but also very lightweight. Major international aerospace companies, including Boeing, Spirit AeroSystems, Collins Aerospace, GKN Aerospace, and most recently FACC, are therefore joining forces in the ThermoPlastic composites Research Center (TPRC). In the research center in Enschede (Netherlands), research is being conducted into possible further developments and applications of these promising materials.

Numerous fields of application

The short manufacturing time of the components is of particular interest to us,” explains Robert Machtlinger, CEO of FACC AG. This enables costs to be cut and energy consumption of the processes to be reduced, which confers a key competitive advantage, particularly in the dynamic field of Urban Air Mobility. Possible solutions range from support and control surfaces to cabin components.

Resilience, lower weight, processability, recyclability and cost effectiveness: the demands placed on materials for the construction of aircraft and drones are extremely high,” emphasizes René Adam, Director of Research and Technology at FACC. “The materials that are currently being researched together with international partners offer enormous potential in this regard. Manufacturing by means of thermoplastic fiber composites has now become one of the core elements of materials and process research in the aerospace sector,” adds Adam.

Sebastiaan Wijskamp, Technical Director of the TPRC: “We are delighted that FACC has joined our consortium. FACC’s ambitions regarding the use of thermoplastic composites fit seamlessly into the research roadmap of the TPRC. Our knowledge of the fundamentals of thermoplastic composites will definitely speed up the further use of thermoplastic technologies at FACC, while we, in turn, stand to greatly benefit from FACC’s leadership and guidance as an industrial partner with a clear vision for the commercial application of thermoplastic composites.”

About FACC

FACC is a leading global aerospace company in the design, development and production of aerospace technologies and advanced lightweight systems for aircraft. FACC is one of the key players in the global market for aircraft components. For more than 30 years, the Austrian high-tech company has been a leader in the development and production of components and systems from composite materials. FACC realizes long-term relationships with its customers, has a strong supply network and benefits from thorough in-house engineering expertise. FACC is listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange and is part of the Fortune-500 group AVIC. For more information facc.com.

About TPRC

The ThermoPlastic Composites Research Center (TPRC) is a research center for thermoplastic composites where experts work together to increase knowledge of materials, their behavior, product design and processing technologies. The main goal of TPRC is to enable large-scale use of thermoplastic composites through joint research and development. By bringing all factors in the value chain together in the consortium, the TPRC can effectively identify, analyze and remove the technological barriers that prevent the large-scale adoption of thermoplastic composites. The involvement of the value chain as a whole accelerates innovation. The TPRC believes in thermoplastic composites as a material for lightweight manufacturing in large volumes. For more information tprc.co.uk.

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